Tools to Make Personalized Coffee Mugs

For those who routinely enjoy coffee as well as other hot beverages, a coffee mug can be a prominent part of each day. Therefore, it is fitting to have a mug that reflects your personality, hobbies, tastes or lifestyle. While personalized mugs bearing everything from initials to astrology signs are available for sale at a variety of retailers, it is possible to make them yourself.

Use Clay, Glaze And Kiln

One of the most traditional ways to make a personalized coffee mug is to sculpt one yourself out of clay. Make a mug in a shape and size that suits your taste and needs. Use sculpting tools to carve your name, initials, or other words and symbols into the clay. Apply a glaze to the mug that will lend it a color and finish reflective of your personal taste. Fire the mug in a kiln to make it hard and durable. This is a great, old-fashioned way to make a mug that is totally personalized.

Draw With Glass- and Ceramic-Friendly Paints and Markers

You can find markers and paints made specifically for embellishing coffee mugs and other ceramic and glass dishes at many art and craft supply stores. These tools allow you to make permanent designs on the outside coffee mug that do not wash off or fade. Follow the instructions that come with the paints and markers you choose; you may be required to bake the coffee mug for about 30 minutes once you have finished embellishing it. These types of tools are best used for embellishing the portion of the mug that does not come in contact with beverages.

Print Images from Computer on Decal Paper

Find decal paper for inkjet or laser printers at many office and craft supply retailers. Print any images you desire onto the adhesive paper, such as photographs, illustrations or scans of drawings. Just follow the decal paper manufacturer’s instructions to apply it to a coffee mug and lend the mug a personalized, durable design.

Personalized Coffee Mug Kits

Many craft supply retailers sell pre-packaged kits for making personalized coffee mugs. The kits come fully equipped with a plain, unembellished coffee mug as well as various tools with which to personalize it, including paint markers and decal paper that allows you to decorate the mug with images printed off your computer. These kits are handy because they provide all the necessary tools and supplies for making a personalized coffee mug in one convenient package.